Library Live

Mieczysław Fogg - 1930s Cabaret to Wartime Resistance
2026-05-26 18:00 - 19:30 UTC | Performance Space
Join us for a unique event celebrating Mieczysław Fogg, Poland’s legendary crooner on the 125th anniversary of his birth. Dive into the vibe of 1930s cabaret and discover how his music became a symbol of wartime resistance. With stories from cultural researcher and journalist Juliette Bretan, a visual journey through his inspiring life and melodies from singer songwriter Katy Carr. His unforgettable voice continues to affect contemporary musicians and listeners. Don’t miss out on this Polish Heritage event brought to you by Anna Kucewicz and Eva Szegidewicz.
Free – reserve a place on Eventbrite here or click on ‘Book Now’ below

Heartstone: KFOR AND KOSOVO +25 Event
2026-06-12 15:00 - 16:30 | Performance Space
On June 12th, the photo-documentary exhibition, ‘KFOR and Kosovo +25’, is at the centre of an extraordinary event being staged at Manchester Central Library as part of Manchester’s Festival of Libraries.

Produced by internationally acclaimed photographer, Nick Sidle, covering the period 2000-1, in the aftermath of the 1999 Kosova war, the exhibition tells an uplifting visual story of the resilience of ordinary people recovering from a period of horrific ethnic cleansing and the role of the KFOR peacekeepers in bringing the stability and security from which peace followed. Many in the Greater Manchester region supported at the time with funds, blankets, toys and other items.
This event will bring together online for the first time some of the civilians pictured in the images, who have been located 25 years later in Kosova, and others who were part of this period in the North West and other parts of the UK. In Kosova, the event is taking shape from the National Library of Kosova opened by Kosova’s Minister for Culture, Saranda Bogujevci, herself a survivor of the Podujeva Massacre and one of those evacuated to Manchester in 1999.
Admission is free and there is no booking required, but please come early to be secure of a place at this event.
Header Photo by ©Nick Sidle.

Music Q&A: ‘It's Time the Tale Were Told - A People's History of the Smiths'
2026-06-25 18:00 - 19:00 | Henry Watson Music Library
‘It’s Time The Tale Were Told – A People’s History of The Smiths’ is the story of one of the UK’s most influential indie bands and Manchester’s greatest musical exports.
Featuring the words of over 500 fans of the band, this joyous new book has been collated by author and journalist Iain Key, plus publisher Richard Houghton (Spenwood Books) will be coming to Central Library to tell us about it. From memories of their earliest club shows through to the last ever gig at London’s Brixton Academy, this is a portrait of The Smiths as painted by the fans.
With personal photographs, memorabilia, anecdotes and first-hand accounts of more than 100 gigs, readers will get a front row view of the indie music legends. Based on the songwriting partnership of Morrissey and Marr, The Smiths’ 1985 album Meat Is Murder topped the UK album charts and their other three studio albums reached No 2. The band broke up in 1987 and turned down all invitations to reunite.
Iain Key is a recognisable face on the Manchester Music Scene from many years in the late ’80s and ’90s.A journalist for the tastemaker music site Louder Than War, Iain has written over 500 pieces including music, book and gig reviews. Iain has also produced weekly music shows for the last 4 years for Louder Than War Radio, focussing on both new music and interviews with new and established acts. Iain has also edited People’s Histories of The Clash and Billy Bragg for Spenwood Books.
Iain will be speaking to the publisher of Spenwood Books, Richard Houghton, Expect an intimate, in-person talk, Q&A and book signing with the author.

Tickets are ‘pay-what-you can’ – available via Eventbrite here or clicking the ‘Book Now’ button below, simply ‘pay-what-you can’.
All donations go to Manchester Libraries.
